Fort Canning MRT Station

Fort Canning MRT station is an underground stop on the Downtown Line, identified by the code DT20. It lies beneath River Valley Road at the foot of Fort Canning Hill, which gives the station its name, on the northern bank of the Singapore River. The station sits on the boundary between the Museum and Singapore River planning areas, so it links the green hillside above with the riverside quays below.

Fort Canning on the Downtown Line map

Fort Canning MRT station at a glance

Opening date, operator and ridership figures are LTA data as recorded on Wikipedia.

Most people who use the station are heading to Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay, UE Square or Fort Canning Park, all of which are close by. Its position at the base of the hill makes it a practical starting point if you want to walk up into the park and then drop down to the river afterwards, or do the same route in reverse. It also gives the Downtown Line a stop on the western edge of the city’s museum district.

History of Fort Canning MRT station

Fort Canning MRT station opened on 21 October 2017 as part of Downtown Line Stage 3, a week after the public got an early look at the new stations during an open house. When plans were first revealed in August 2010, it was known as River Valley station. To build the tunnels nearby, part of the Singapore River was temporarily diverted into a new channel and later returned to its original course, while other tunnels were bored directly beneath the National Museum of Singapore. The work was later recognised by the Institution of Engineers Singapore as one of the country’s top 50 engineering achievements since independence.

Inside Fort Canning MRT station

The station’s design draws on the character of the surrounding area. Under the Art-in-Transit programme, it displays an artwork called Through His Eyes.

For visitors, Fort Canning MRT station is a good base for a day of history and culture. The Sri Thendayuthapani Temple is only about three minutes away on foot, and the Battlebox Visitor Centre on Fort Canning Hill takes around seven minutes to reach. The Fort Canning Tree Tunnel, a popular photo spot, is roughly nine minutes’ walk, and the National Museum of Singapore is about ten minutes away, with the Peranakan Museum a little closer.

For shopping and food, Clarke Quay Central is around seven minutes from the station, while Funan and The Cathay are within a fifteen minute walk. Residents of the River Valley area also use the station for quick access to the Downtown Line without travelling into the busier interchanges nearer the city centre.

Around Fort Canning MRT station

Fort Canning station sits in the heart of Singapore's civic and cultural district, surrounded by heritage institutions, green hillside parkland and leisure destinations. The area is popular with tourists and locals alike, with attractions such as the Peranakan Museum and the Fort Canning Tree Tunnel drawing regular visitors. Shopping options including Clarke Quay Central and Funan are also within walking distance, making this a well-rounded urban neighbourhood.

Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.

How to get to Fort Canning by MRT

Worked out from the network map. Stop counts are station to station and do not include walking or waiting time.

Fares from Fort Canning MRT station

A trip from Fort Canning to Changi Airport (about 24 km) costs S$2.38 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from Fort Canning to the main hubs, the early bird fare for journeys that start before 7.45am on weekdays, and the fare that applies from 26 December 2026.

Estimated from the route distance between stations and the Public Transport Council fare table in force from 27 December 2025. The exact fare can differ by one band. Cash fares are higher. Use the fare calculator for any other journey, or check your fare on the SimplyGo app.

Tips for using Fort Canning MRT station

• The Fort Canning Tree Tunnel and Battlebox Visitor Centre are both within the Fort Canning Park area, so consider combining them into a single visit to make the most of your trip.
• Clarke Quay Central is approximately a seven-minute walk away, but the route involves some incline near the park, so allow a little extra time if you are unfamiliar with the area.
• The National Museum of Singapore and Funan are around a ten-minute walk from the station, making them easy on foot if you are not pressed for time, though travelling one stop on the Downtown Line is an option for reaching Funan more quickly.
• The station serves only the Downtown Line, so if you need to transfer to other lines, plan to travel to a nearby interchange station such as Bugis or Promenade.

All stations on the Downtown Line

In order along the line, with Fort Canning marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.

Read the full Downtown Line guide.

Fort Canning MRT station: common questions

Which line is Fort Canning MRT station on?

Fort Canning is on the Downtown Line. Its station code is DT20.

Is Fort Canning an interchange station?

No. Fort Canning is served by the Downtown Line only. The nearest interchange is shown in the next stations row above.

What time is the first and last train at Fort Canning?

Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Fort Canning a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. Downtown Line first train 5:30 AM, last train 11:40 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.

What is near Fort Canning MRT station?

The station is close to several cultural and leisure destinations, including Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at approximately 160 metres, the Battlebox Visitor Centre and Clarke Quay Central at around 460 metres, and the Peranakan Museum and Fort Canning Tree Tunnel at roughly 560 to 580 metres.

Which shopping mall is closest to Fort Canning station?

Clarke Quay Central is the closest shopping mall, at approximately 460 metres straight-line distance, which is roughly a seven-minute walk.

How far is the National Museum of Singapore from Fort Canning station?

The National Museum of Singapore is approximately 640 metres away in a straight line, which works out to roughly a ten-minute walk.

How do I get to Fort Canning from Changi Airport by MRT?

Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to Bugis (10 stops), then change to the Downtown Line from Bugis to Fort Canning (6 stops). About 16 stops with 1 change.

Sources: station codes, line colours and interchanges from the LTA rail system map; operating hours from SMRT and SBS Transit. Last reviewed October 2026.

News and guides mentioning Fort Canning

• シンガポール地下鉄（MRT）路線図 2026（日本語ガイド） 4 Oct 2026
• Downtown Line Map 11 Aug 2023
• Tamil 11 Aug 2023
• MRT Map Chinese 11 Aug 2023

Plan the rest of the trip

Every station on the Downtown Line is listed on its line guide, with the full route and interchanges. For times, see the first and last train guide, and for the whole network in one view use the interactive Singapore MRT map or the PDF map.